Her nostrils flare. “I know very well what he did to me, but I’d rather it had happen to me than anyone else and you want to know why?”
I shake my head knowing what she’s about to do and I don’t think I’m capable of hearing it. I don’t need to hear how I’m somehow the hero to her in all of this. “Don’t, I don’t want to know.”
“Because I had the strength of my brother to help piece me back together. I had the love of a mother to console me on the nights where all I did was cry. And I had the love from two of the most beautiful people on this earth to keep me living another day. Believe me, Ethan, you saved me. You saved me countless of times. So please, don’t ever blame yourself again. I can’t bare to think that one of the people I love so fucking much who is such an important piece of keeping me going is torturing himself by carrying the burden of a blame for he should not.”
The inevitable truth bomb she detonates and it explodes everything leaving nothing but casualties. And her sole target, the bomb at which she aimed, thrown right at me.
“So you see, you’re wrong. You’re the hero. You’re my hero. You always have been and you always will be.”
I crash her against my chest and hold her tightly just like when we were kids.
And somewhere deep inside I feel the immense weight lift.
Forgiveness, I feel forgiveness sweep down and lift the weight that has been slowly killing me.
“I love you, sis.”
“I love you, too,” she sniffles.
After what feels like an incredibly short amount of time we let each other go. Taking off her glasses she wipes underneath her eyes with the edge of her sleeves. “I’ll see you soon.”
I nod my head. “I’ll see you soon.”
Taking one final look at everyone I walk out of the dining room feeling completely at odds with myself. Because as my heart feels heavy, leaving them behind to face the unknown, I’ve never felt this light in years.
I’m finally at peace with myself and everything that I have done.
I’m finally forgiving myself for everything in my past.
I’ve made amends with a man I had wrongfully hated.
I have fallen in love with a woman who I can’t imagine my life without.
And I have finally freed myself from the prison I’ve shackled myself to.
So as I open the door to the two agents outside and Agent Astrid Liu tells me I’m under arrest for the murder of Chris Townsend, reading me my rights as she handcuffs me, I’ve never felt freer.
Oak
Iraise my wrists that are bound together by cuffs and chained to the steel table. “Is this really necessary?”
Agent Liam Travers sits on the opposite side of me with his hands clasped on top of the table. There appears to be a sympathetic look upon his face but I can’t tell if it’s all smoke and mirrors. “Sorry, can’t go against protocol.”
“Protocol, right,” I scoff. If protocol is being questioned in this outdated, cold and stuffy room on a painfully uncomfortable metal chair with my wrists cuffed too tightly and absolutely no accommodations then they’re doing protocol perfectly.
“You must understand, we can’t take the risk of having you sit freely. We know of your reputation and you were highly spoken of as a Marine when it came to tactical and combat.” He speaks as if he’s telling me a compliment but all I’m hearing is I’m too much of a threat.
I sit my hands back down on the table, only because the chain doesn’t allow me to move much. “Then surely you must know I can still do damage with my hands bound.”
“Is that a threat against two agents Mr. Barrington?” Agent Astrid Liu accuses with her nose high in the air.
Cutting a glance at her I reply nonchalantly, “No, I’m merely stating a fact.”
Agent Travers looks rather amused while Liu is highly annoyed. What a pair these two make. If the definition of good cop bad cop is in the dictionary there’s a picture of these two with it.
And so far his good cop routine isn’t working, which is only pissing Liu off more.
I take it doesn’t take much to ruffle her feathers. She seems the type that needs control in all aspects of her life. Order, structure, plan. Type A personality with no means of compromise or change. Her personal life must be a damn pity.
